985 Tasting Notes
Day 3 of SimplyJenW’s China black palate training course, of sorts:
I have about 11 samples, and I am sure it will take longer than 11 days to get through them. I decided to try one of the value teas today.
This one is a steal at under $5 for 125g. I like it so much better than the last two I tried, which I consider to be in the mid to high range for price. Is it possible that there is one area of my life where I am easy to please? Smooth, sweet, cocoa notes, no bitterness, and inexpensive. This one tastes like Upton’s Rose Congou without the rose. It is a little sweeter than Harney’s Panyang Congou, and more in line with the taste of Fujian Baroque from Adagio. The leaves are longer and thinner than the Harney’s and they are longer, thinner, and drier looking than the Adagio. I could definitely see myself purchasing this one once the collection of blacks diminishes a little….Or maybe just the next time I order from Upton!
Preparation
This was a free sample in my recent order from The Tea Spot. I will admit I was a little disappointed it was a rooibos before I tasted it. This one really is pretty good. It almost makes me want to try a few other rooibos teas I have in my cupboard again, just in case I missed something with them. I can definitely taste the vanilla, and the almond is light. Sweetened, it really is a good, smooth, dessert type taste. A surprisingly good cup.
Resteeps well, too.
Preparation
I have finally decided that tea is not just a passing fancy for me, and it was time to make myself an actual tea cupboard. Unfortunately, that meant cleaning out a few cabinets.
This was the tea that rewarded me, and relaxed me, once all of my treasures had a permanent home. As always, the rose and the black base are in perfect harmony…neither over-powers the other. The 5 minute resteep was equally as good.
Preparation
Cheers to a tidy cabinet!
We had to do this as well….as long as I’ve known her, my mother had a tea drawer, so when we got the new house, we had a tea drawer. Then we got into the loose leaf teas, and our tea drawer became a massive tea shelf. Soon we’ll have a tea shelf, rack, and another shelf! It feels so good to have it all tidy, though.
We gave up containing the obsession. Now it’s a cupboard and three drawers plus a bunch of jars and tins around as decoration…
Ha Ha…I love the idea of tea tin home decor. Somehow, I don’t think my hubster would like it much. He likes the counters as clear as possible, but unfortunately I fail at that…. My first tea cupboard is an upper and part of a deep lower. Man, where does it go from here!
I have the middle part of one of the kitchen cabinets, and a drawer at work :) The teas have also migrated to the bottom drawer of one of the cabinets, too, but I do not approve!! I told myself “No major tea purchases, missy, until you can fit all of your tea in the middle shelf of the cabinet!!” So, I’m going to buy THIS lovely tea this week, and that’s IT until…I fall head over heels in love with another tea ;)
Mine would all fit into my 18" upper, but I like to have space to see what I have. I need to hold off a bit on purchases, too. But tea is my reward for staying on my eating and exercise plan (and I have lost almost 30 pounds ince last Sept., and walked almost 100 miles since late Jan.) And I used to be such a couch potato!
Ahhhh. Queen Catherine to the rescue. My previous tasting note was about a black tea that did not very much appeal to me. Now my palate is happy again, and restored. The Queen is good and reliable. She is the perfect amount of boldness, and reserve. That may sound contradictory, but she is perfect in how she fits the occasion, no matter what it might be.
Preparation
Day 2 of SimplyJenW’s China black tea palate training course.
This one is malty, and really kind of flat, in my opinion. What I find interesting is that this one gets stellar reviews on Upton’s site, where not many other teas do. It makes me wonder if I did something wrong in the brewing. For me it is kind of bitter on the finish. I could not continue tasting the tea without adding something. I know that all teas are not supposed to be smooth, cocoa-ey, and wonderful for my taste. We all have our preferences, but I find this one a little harsh, even lightly sweetened. It reminds me of the days when I liked Beck’s beer….which is bitter to me now, but when you are used to the bitterness, it is pretty good. Perhaps that is the same with tea….. This one would appeal to those who like bolder tastes in their tea. And I am at the sweet and subtle stage. Sorry, but I have to dump this one….
Preparation
This was my tea of the evening at my knitting group meeting. I took it in sachet form, as I keep a small tin in my purse for tea emergencies, and it is so convenient. And all of my fellow knitters call me the resident tea pusher of the group……
Perfect as always. Sweet, with a warm, creamy vanilla scent and flavor. Yum! The sachet was definitely good on a resteep. I am sure it was a 12 or 16 oz cup, too.
Preparation
I am pretty sure this one will be up for repurchase. So far it is my favorite herbal. Lemony, slightly fruity with a touch of peppermint and sweetness from the licorice. Maybe it will do something for my mood, too. I am thinking the St. John’s Wort is kind of low in this, but since it tastes so good, I will still call it my happy tea.
Preparation
I purchased several samples from Upton in the China black category as kind of a training course for my palate. I am just trying to train it to taste differences, and we will see how it goes from there.
This is a lovely black. The leaves do look pretty much unlike any other black I have tried. They are largish, thick and wavy. I am drinking this one straight. Yes, very weird for me, but it is good this way. It smells sweeter than it tastes, but that is probably because I normally take sweetener in my tea. As for tasting any notes in this one? It tastes lightly of red wine (which is probably why I like it!) Toward the end of the cup, I detect the slightest bitter edge. Not enough to get me to stop drinking it. Ooops. I am out of observations because I am out of tea!
I am trying to finish up about an ounce of this that I have left. It is not on my reorder list. However, it is not too bad if I add a tsp of Diet Hot Cocolate mix and a touch of sweetener.
This is the second tea I have tried with this method. And up next is a decaf strawberry. I get about three jumbo mugs of cocoa tea with one pouch of Diet Hot Cocoa mix that is 25 calories. Each jumbo mug is under 10 calories. I like the option for cocoa tea in the evenings, but like the option for just tea, too. This works for me.
